Pop!_OS 24.04 Released with COSMIC Desktop: System76 Revolutionary New DE

System76 has officially released Pop!_OS 24.04, featuring the first stable release of the highly anticipated COSMIC desktop environment. This marks a historic moment for the Linux desktop, as COSMIC represents a completely new desktop environment built from scratch using the Rust programming language.

What is COSMIC Desktop?

COSMIC (Computer Operating System Main Interface Components) is System76 completely new desktop environment. Unlike their previous GNOME-based Pop Shell, COSMIC is built entirely from the ground up with:

• Rust programming language – Memory safe, fast, and modern
• Iced toolkit – A cross-platform GUI library for Rust
• Custom compositor – Built on Smithay for Wayland
• Freedesktop standards – Full compatibility with existing Linux applications

Key Features of COSMIC

Tiling Window Management

COSMIC includes powerful tiling features that Pop!_OS users loved from Pop Shell:

• Automatic window tiling with smart defaults
• Easy toggle between tiling and floating modes
• Keyboard-driven workflow support
• Customizable tiling gaps and layouts
• Window stacking within tiles

Customization

COSMIC offers unprecedented customization options:

• Theming – Complete control over colors, accents, and appearance
• Panel configuration – Multiple panels with flexible positioning
• Dock options – Configurable dock with various behaviors
• Font settings – System-wide font customization
• Desktop effects – Subtle animations and transitions

COSMIC Applications

The release includes several native COSMIC applications:

• COSMIC Files – Fast, tabbed file manager
• COSMIC Terminal – Modern terminal emulator
• COSMIC Text Editor – Clean, efficient text editor
• COSMIC Settings – Comprehensive system configuration
• COSMIC Store – Application management (Flatpak, deb, Snap)

Performance Improvements

Being built in Rust provides several performance benefits:

• Lower memory usage – More efficient than traditional GTK/Qt desktops
• Faster startup – Quick boot to desktop
• Smooth animations – Consistent frame rates
• Better battery life – Optimized for laptops
• No memory leaks – Rust memory safety guarantees

System Requirements

Pop!_OS 24.04 with COSMIC requires:

• CPU: 64-bit processor (Intel/AMD)
• RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended
• Storage: 20 GB minimum
• Graphics: GPU with Vulkan support recommended
• Display: 1024×768 minimum resolution

Installation Options

Pop!_OS 24.04 is available in two ISO variants:

• Intel/AMD ISO – For systems with integrated graphics or AMD GPUs
• NVIDIA ISO – Includes proprietary NVIDIA drivers pre-installed

Download from the official System76 website and create a bootable USB drive:

# Using dd (replace sdX with your USB drive)
sudo dd if=pop-os_24.04_amd64_intel.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress

# Or use a GUI tool like Popsicle, balenaEtcher, or Ventoy

Upgrading from Pop!_OS 22.04

Current Pop!_OS users can upgrade via the terminal:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
pop-upgrade release upgrade

Note: Back up your data before upgrading. The move to COSMIC is a significant change.

What About GNOME Users?

If you prefer the traditional GNOME experience, you can still install it:

sudo apt install gnome-shell ubuntu-gnome-desktop

However, System76 recommends giving COSMIC a fair try. Many GNOME workflows translate well to COSMIC.

COSMIC on Other Distributions

COSMIC is not exclusive to Pop!_OS. It is available or being packaged for:

• Fedora (COPR repository)
• Arch Linux (AUR)
• NixOS (nixpkgs)
• openSUSE (OBS)

Conclusion

Pop!_OS 24.04 with COSMIC desktop represents years of work by System76 to create a truly modern Linux desktop. By choosing Rust and building from scratch, they have created something unique in the Linux ecosystem – a desktop environment designed specifically for the needs of developers, creators, and power users.

Whether you are a current Pop!_OS user or looking for a new Linux distribution, Pop!_OS 24.04 is worth exploring. COSMIC brings fresh ideas to the Linux desktop while respecting the workflows that power users depend on.

Download Pop!_OS 24.04 from pop.system76.com and experience the future of the Linux desktop.